I am a frequent visitor to Phoenix and the Phoenix area. Until recently I thought that I knew all the places to go, but after my last visit I learned that I have a lot to experience still. This realization came about when I realize that I have never been to South Mountain park before! This is the largest municipally managed parked not only in Phoenix area, but in the United States. This park covers over 16,000 acre of desert land. The park covers three mountain ranges that you can learn about in a beautiful visitor center. This park also features more than 50 miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback rider. And if you are not a hiker, then you can experience the beauty of the park through a scenic 5.5 mile drive up Summit Road which leads to a peak where you can see Phoenix and beyond. Make sure you plan ahead for your hikes. There are so many trails to explore at different difficulties and start points. Also, the trails are not shaded so start early or pick a cool day. Bring plenty of water too and perhaps a hiking stick. If you need more information, stop in at the visitor center. The visitor center is pretty impressive. The center is very informative on the mountains, the local people, and wildlife. Plus, the gentlemen working the center was super friendly in sharing a wealth of information. He showed me a snake outside the center. Yes, there are snakes in this park- so make sure you look out for them! This amazing park is free! The park entrance is open from 5am to 7pm. Trail hours are 5am-11pm. The visitor center is open Thursday through Sunday 9am-3pm. Note on the fourth Sunday of each month, the park host silent Sunday's where cars are not allowed within the park grounds- check out the park's website for parking on those days. Great experience- I will be back! read more

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We took the whole extended family up through South Mountain Park, and it turned into one of those days that sticks with you a little longer than expected. We drove up to Dobbins Lookout, and that's where it really hits. Phoenix spreads out in every direction, a grid of life pressed up against open desert, with mountains rising in the distance like they've been quietly watching the whole thing unfold. It's not subtle. It's big, raw, and a little humbling. What makes this place stand out is how much it offers without trying to package itself too neatly. You can hike, bike, ride horseback, or just stay in the car and take the scenic drive. It works for everyone. We had a mix of people, some ready to tackle trails, others perfectly happy just soaking in the views, and nobody felt out of place. The trail system is extensive. You've got everything from easy, walkable paths to longer, more demanding routes like the National Trail, which stretches over 15 miles and cuts through a huge portion of the park. It's the kind of place where you can come back multiple times and still find something new. We did some light hiking, nothing too aggressive, but even then you feel the terrain. It's not forgiving, and that's part of the appeal. The desert has a way of reminding you to pay attention. Loose rock, uneven footing, the occasional reminder that you're sharing the trail with horses. It keeps you honest. Timing matters out here. Go early. Not just to beat the heat, which you absolutely should, but because the light in the morning does something different. It softens the landscape, pulls out color and texture that gets washed out later in the day. By midday, the sun is in full control and it's a different experience entirely. A few practical notes. Bring more water than you think you need. Then add a little more. Wear actual boots, not something you don't mind slipping around in. And keep an eye on the trail, especially on the multi-use sections. You'll know why pretty quickly. What I appreciated most is how accessible it is. You're minutes from the city, and suddenly you're in this wide, open space that feels removed from everything. No overdevelopment, no forced attractions. Just desert, sky, and distance. It's not polished, and it's not trying to be. That's exactly why it works. Five stars without hesitation. read more

South Mountain Park, Phoenix. Nov, 2025. My husband and I visited this park, reaching the Visitor Center (VC) just after 3 pm on a Friday afternoon. What's significant about that fact is that the VC has limited hours, being open only Thurs-Sun, 9 am-3 pm (closed on Mon-Wed). Our original plan was to go the VC to pick up some maps to get a lay of the land, and to use the restroom after having been touring around Phoenix. As we and another gentleman reached the door, we found that a worker had just locked it for the day. BUT, he noticed us, unlocked it, and let us in! How very kind! Parking/entrance hours are longer at 5 am to 7 pm, whereas trail hours are 5 am to 11 pm. Admission is free. South Mountain Park and Preserve is extensive, and at more than 16 thousand acres is one of the largest municipally managed parks in the nation. Consisting of three mountain ranges, the park boosts more than 100 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Another fun fact? The Park and Preserve celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024, with the City of Phoenix having purchased the park's first 13 thousand acres in 1924. It was already mid-afternoon, so we needed to select our activities carefully. *We drove up the park's scenic, gradually climbing 5.5-mile road to the DOBBINS LOOKOUT. The drive itself, with a road shared by motor vehicles, bikers, and hikers, is an adventure, with many blind corners, narrow sections, and some treacherous drop-offs. It takes about 25-30 minutes to reach the lookout, which at 2,330 feet, is the highest point in the park that is available to the public. (Note that you can also reach the lookout by trail). The lookout features historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) masonry structures, shade, benches, and panoramic 360-degree views of the metropolitan area, Camelback Mountain, and the desert. See my separate review of Dobbins Lookout on Yelp. *After driving back down the mountain, we returned to the parking lot near the VC, and decided to do a short walk (1-mile loop) on the trails there. There are two trails there that are designed to be accessible to as many people as possible. Only walking is allowed; no bikes or horses. The JUDITH TUNELL TRAIL is a 6-foot wide accessible loop trail that is just under 1/2-mile long, and has shade ramadas, a chilled drinking fountain, and benches. We extended thus by adding the JUDITH TUNELL CHALLENGE TRAIL, again a 6-foot wide paved trail (+ 1/2-mile) that offers a slightly more challenging slope (8.5% for a short distance). There were some late afternoon joggers on the trails, and a guides equestrian ride on the adjacent Las Lomitas Trail. It started to get dark so we headed back to the hotel, with a promise that we would return to do some more serious hikes and to check out the environmental exhibits in the recently renovated VC. read more

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The views. The recreation. The historical relevance. All things reasons to up the hill. Highly recommended. read more

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I arrived at the 35th Avenue trailhead into South Mountain Park on January 1, 2026 to enjoy the day and do my best to remove the Yellow Stinknet plant from nearby watercourses. April, 2025 my daughter and I were here gathering seed for planting at the Central Avenue Audubon Center. A cousin called. A brother was not well. That call led to a series of Yelp reports from San Fernando/Burbank California. In our cross country rush out of the area I found Yellow Stinknet plant. I vowed to return. Our 8+ inch (200mm +) rainfall August through November 2025 produced a bounty of desert plants. The earliest bloomers have blossomed and seeded already. The next wave are poppies, phacelia, scorpion plant/fiddlehead, various. mustards and other species I do not know. I saw a lone lily shoot under a creosote plant. Creosote plant fragrance perfumed my afternoon. Once I started pulling non-flowered stinknet plants, that terpine odor joined the sweet creosote fragrance. When native plants thrive, stinknet booms. It starts growing sooner, grows faster and seeds just as native plant begin catching up. AL the Dog and I got a pretty good haul. I need two more afternoons here to clean the three watercourses I started on. read more

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I don't understand the hype with this place. It's a random hiking area in south Phoenix. Just trying to get here, we had to drive through some very questionable areas that did not seem safe at all. There's parking available right off the main road in front of the entrance. At least in July when we were here, there was plenty of parking. There's no seating areas. It is mostly just walking dirt trails. Not impressed with this place. Free parking does not make it 5 stars. Will not be returning. read more

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One of the awesome things about Phoenix is accessibility to nature. Case in point: South Mountain Park. One of the most prominent hiking areas town. I most recently stopped by on a Saturday afternoon for a hike. A couple of highlights to share. If you stop by their Visitor's Center, they have a mini museum where you can learn about the park e.g. the animals and plants that inhabit it; the fact that it's indigenous land, and the history of the park. The VC is air conditioned and they also have bathrooms and various pamphlets/brochures you can take with you. From there, perhaps the most famous hike is Holbert Trail. An hour and a half or so on this moderate trail (if you choose this fork in the road) will take you to Dobbins Lookout. The work you put in will take you to one of the most popular nature stops in town offering stunning scenic views of the city. After hanging out around Dobbins for a bit, an hour or so will take you back to your starting point. Making it a three hour hike or so. Beyond Holbert Trail and Dobbins Lookout, you have other cool things to check out at this Park. And all of it is for free. With easy parking. Enjoy! read more

The Ridgeline Trail at South Mountain Park has incredible views at multiple points on the trail! You can start from the parking lot. The Javelina Trail is a lower level trail good for biking, and can also be started from the parking lot. We went on New Year's Day and the weather was perfect. read more

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From nature to history, South Mountain Park has a story. South Mountain Park is an open space that spans 16,500 acres of scenic beauty. We only explored one side of the park, but there is plenty more to discover with many other trails and sights displaying its rich history and beautiful landscapes. One of the first things that welcomes you is a boulder with an inscribed petroglyph, telling much about the old inhabitants who roamed this place. The park was created in June 1924 to protect the natural and cultural heritage of this area. A historical building, serving as a museum and administrative office, is located at the original park entrance. This was the first permanent structure constructed in the park and one of many built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. It is one of the few remaining buildings in South Mountain Park and serves as a reminder of those who created and preserved this beautiful park for future generations. For anyone interested in history and natural wonders, South Mountain Park is a place you should never miss. read more

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It was a beautiful day with clear skies all around . We drove to each of the lookouts. All of the areas had great views. The Dobbins outlook was the busiest and had some litter around. I was surprised to see there was no charge to enter. It is a fun drive with lots of hairpin turns. As d of course a significant change in elevation. read more

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I really love visiting South Mountain Park and it is usually my go-to spot when wanting to take visiting friends or family on a hike! As it's an easy drive, ample parking and free entry. This time around we did Kiwani's trail, which connects to Telegraph trail, National trail and leads to Dobbin's lookout. The out and bike hike has a small lot and is roughly 2.8 miles out and back. It's rock and sort of stair step-y with a great view of the valley at the end that connects with Telegraph. I would consider this trail easy, but moderate to some. Doggos also allowed! The one thing South Mountain could use a bit more of is singange, as their roads and markings are not totally accurate and there are a lot of off shoots and of course limited service! Overall, still a fan favorite and great go-to. read more

Had a great time hiking with my boba sistah and little one at South Mountain. We hiked the Las Lomitos trail and we got to take in some beautiful views of the mountains while we were here. It's a fairly easy trail to go on, and it's also a trail that people ride their horses on which means you'll be dodging quite a bit of horse droppings on your hike. There was also a lot of smaller animal scat on the ground, maybe from a careless dog owner or a coyote? Parking was plentiful and easy in the nearby lots. I'd love to go back and hike some more trails here. P.S. fun fact, los lomitas means little hill! read more

South Mountain Park - View from the Los Lomitas trail - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

hike and bike to your hearts desire! go in the winter or early! Most trails are popular! read more

South Mountain Park - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Put my review under Dobbin Lookout, but since the lookout was just a part of the overall South Mountain Park, here is a copy paste: Sure you could drive straight to the top & lookout, but the full hike was absolutely worth it Starting at Scorpion Gulch, a neat glimpse into history of the area, beautiful horses, and an easy flat path to the trailhead Ample parking, well signed- a 4&half miles out and back path with lots of views, some challenging incline, but spacious trails to navigate Top is a bit crowded from everyone who just drives up, but house was a neat view read more

Beautiful and so relaxing. Scary drive to top but worth it. We first visited 6 years ago into pictures. It's still just as beautiful and peaceful. I must see if you're in Phoenix. read more

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Goat Mountain via Pyramid, National and Lost Ranch mine Loop Parking has moved 150 yards west to make room for a new fire station. Taking the right hand (counter clockwise) route will result in a very narrow and sometimes borderline treacherous decent toward the end of your hike. It might be better to take the left (clockwise) route and tackle these sections going up rather than down. Difficulty: Hard read more

Why don't mountains ever get lost when hiking? Because they always "peak" at the map before they go! Always a go-to mountain that has plenty of flats, and if you decide, you can get a little more adventurous and hit up the vertical climbs. Lots of places to stop and rest, especially at the "red bench," which is about half way point in my opinion. There's also the Pima Wash trail wish it like walking on a sandy beach like David Hassleoff, if you feel like being in a baywatch scene. Good for dogs, and you might get lucky with a good parking spot. Wish they had more parking options. read more

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Nice & scenic w/ beautiful views. There's a covered seating area. As well as restrooms at the bottom & top of the mountain. Very winding & narrow road, a bit scary. The drive up was worth the experience. read more

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I have hiked here 4 times and it was different each time because there are so many trails! You can choose easy, medium, or difficult (on trail map app) so it's really for anyone. As a person from Michigan, it's a great place to hike locally if you have an "itch" to hike somewhere. Plus it's close to town! Since it's so close, it gets busy around 8-9am on the weekends, so you may have to park on the side road coming in. read more

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The only thing I did not like was the long sidewalk like concrete to the mountain, on the way out it seemed as if it was going to Be forever until we got back to the car however the rest was amazing. A good mixture of climbing to the building structure what I would say was have the hike and we kept going up the road to the next trail which is where you got to see all of the rolling hills and mountains, absolutely beautiful views of the city and downtown. A good steady hike and not much climbing compared to camelback. We saw people walk, run and bike it, the bikers were pretty cool to watch. This is a great trail to hit for sunrise or sunset. read more

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Well that was totally worth the drive up the mountain. Listen, I was told it's a must do by the locals here. Glad I finally went. Wow! What a gorgeous evening view of the Entire valley below ! Head all the way up till you can't go up anymore and you've come to Dobbins lookout. Come and see the stars up close. Check out the city views. Parking is readily available. Sit and park or get out and stretch your legs by walking around the grounds. I'll be back, this time I'll do an afternoon so I can see the view on daylight. It's a perfect spot to catch a sunset. read more

South Mountain Park - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Spent the morning doing the Holbert to Dobbins Lookout trail at South Mountain. Centrally located. Plenty of ample parking. Bathrooms located at the trailhead, but have seen better days. Trail itself is extremely well marked and the trail is maintained quite well. The scenery is beautiful, but South Mountain is what I would refer to as 'Thunderbird, Jr.' No one knows what trail etiquette is and if you're an experienced hiker, it makes for a frustrating experience. You've got people going downhill not yielding to hikers going uphill (who always have the right of way). You'll also have a hiker going at their own snail's pace refusing to allow others to pass. You know that car camped out in the far left lane on the I-17 doing 64.3 mph in a 65 mph zone? ...yeah, that's what it's like. Additionally, there's the losers who have their external Bluetooth speaker attached to their Wal-Mart back with their shitty music blaring at max volume. Contrary to popular belief, no one else on the trail wants to listen to your shitty excuse of what you call music. One suggestion, two words: ear buds. Invest in a pair. Have some common courtesy, ya moron. Like most things in life, there's nothing wrong with South Mountain itself. It's the fair-weather hikers who all of a sudden during the peak of COVID decided they were going to be avid outdoorsmen and women. LOLOL. There are so many more awesome trails waaaaaay off the beaten path where there aren't a lot of people wrecking the experience. Find them. Unless you're one of the many individuals I described previously... then keep going to South Mountain. read more

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The drive, the view, the awesomeness! The experience is worth the climb!!!! Native jewelry for sale at the top was a fun added bonus! read more

Very beautiful park. My friend took me here because she's been going here for years and wanted me to see the beauty of the mountain at sun set. Upon arriving and driving up the mountain, it was fun. Could have done without the car tail gating us even though we were going the speed limit (and slightly above) We arrived to the top of the mountain and.... No parking. All the spots were filled by tourists. Worst of all were the motorcycles parked IN CAR SPOTS WHEN THERE WERE TONS OF MOTORCYCLE SPOTS OPEN!!! So infuriating. Trying to go back down the mountain to take pictures on the side of the road was tricky... people not letting you leave the parking lot is an issue. We ended up parking on fr right side and we're able to see the sunset and get some cool pictures but dang... they really need to work on the structure on top the mountain to ensure people don't hog spots read more

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Absolutely beautiful place to have a view of the valley. Drive up is very scenic and easy to navigate. On the way up, there's also option to hike,bike or horseback ride. Best time to head up there is during golden hour.. read more

South Mountain Park - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I wish I could have spent more time here, as the weather in December was just perfect for hiking. This is the kind of place that you must be grateful for if you're a Phoenician, because it's a whole lot of open space in your backyard, and in an ever-sprawling valley, that's a hard thing to come by. We were on holiday, and the crowds were here as well. We chose to go in the Pima Canyon side, which was also a very popular choice. I wonder if the other areas would have had so many people there, too, but with a population like there is in Phoenix and a pandemic that has us all craving to get out, I don't think there's anywhere on the mountain that really offers much solitude. We really loved the experience, though. It had a lot of nature, some city views, and a nice hike up the wash. There's not much wildlife here due to all the people, but there's a bit of human history to go see, with a few old (modern) ruins of old homes. It clocks in at around 16k acres, and there seem to be a few concentrated access points. You should check out their website to get more info, but the trailheads are: Pima Canyon Trailhead (4800 E. Pima Canyon Rd.); Mormon Trailhead (8610 S. 24th St.); Beverly Canyon Trailhead​ (8800 S. 46th St.); ​Buena Vista Trailhead (N. Buena Vista Rd.); Desert Foothills Trailhead (14251 S. Desert Foothills Pkwy.); Chandler Blvd. and 19th Ave. Trailhead (15451 S. 19th Ave.); 19th Ave. (Ma-Ha-Tauk) Trailhead. (10484 S. 19th Ave.). read more

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This is literally my new favorite spot! I guess I was not expecting that much as we wanted somewhere new to hike and checkout the scenery. There is Ponderosa stables at the bottom of the mountain where you can schedule trail rides and a breakfast, lunch or dinner. We will be trying that in the very near future. You have so many options here of parking and hiking or biking. We chose to drive to the top and check it out. Definitely not disappointed. The road driving up is a narrow two lane road that is winding and fun! Well we found the adventure in it. We first stopped at Dobbins lookout which looks over the north side of the mountain and towards downtown Phoenix. It was BEAUTIFUL!! Plenty of places there to hike trails or just sit and enjoy the beauty Phoenix has to offer. There are benches as well to sit at. We decided after that to trek it all the way up the mountain and see the other lookouts. There was another spot to see what's south of the mountain behind all the towers. That was beautiful and windy. We went hiking after that and there are plenty of trails that are clean and fun. Overall, definitely check it out if you have not already. There is no fees you have to pay at any of the stop points and there are restrooms as well at the bottom. Beautiful views and we will be back again soon! read more

South Mountain Park - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I hate to even mention this as it is a pretty special place. Great vistas moderate climbs and great paths. Many choices of trails to choose. Will come at least twice for a visit while I am here read more

Great park! you can enjoy so many different trails from easy to difficult. If you want a view of the city and the sunset get there before 5 PM, pack a little picnic with a glass of wine and enjoy life! read more

I have lived in AZ for 31 years, and this is my first visiting South Mountain. It's free to the park, and it takes 15 mins to drive to the top. From the top, you get a great view of the city. Must visit. read more

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This place is amazing and love to hike. They have some of the best views of our city. Let's go baby.

Lots of trails to choose from, well marked, but make sure you stay on the path as it's easy to get a little lost, and bring plenty of water. I like that it's just hilly enough to make the hike interesting and you see plenty of tall cacti. Great views of Phoenix too! read more

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We chose South Mountain Park as a place for a scenic drive while we waited for our girls to take their afternoon nap in the car. What a pretty landscape of cacti! I was expecting Wile E. Coyote or the Road Runner to pass through. We drove up to the Dobbins Lookout (I believe). It wasn't too crowded for a Tuesday afternoon. There was jewelry and snacks being sold at the top near the parking area. I imagine it's a beautiful spot to see a sunset. The drive through South Mountain Park was successful in putting our girls to sleep. Woohoo! read more

Great place to hike and get a good view of Phoenix. Trail was sparsely populated during the evening on a weekday. Everyone I encountered was cool and friendly. Gave me good impression of Arizonans. read more

South Mountain Park - View from the south. - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This is a great place to visit no matter your fitness level. We drove all the way to Dobbin's lookout which is 2330 ft to see the great Phoenix view (great view/ride). On the way there are lots of trails for all sorts of fitness levels, and you are also able to take the bike out for a spin. There are lots of signs everywhere so that you are able to know where you are going, please be careful driving as it is a thin winding road with oncoming traffic and cyclists. For those that want to know there are multiple restrooms some at the bottom where the entry gate is and other at the top to make it convenient for everyone. Also keep in mind to stay hydrated in summer months since there is no shade. On top of getting to enjoy the fresh air, taking great pictures with the family, I also learned a little about the saguaro cactus life cycle, and some of the wild life in the area. read more

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I love the drive up here...so peaceful but scary at the same time. I swear I drive 2 mph going up and down for fear of going over.... not ready to die! The vehicles behind me are always honking at me so I end up pulling over on the "teeny round abouts" that's in place, to take a break or to collect your thoughts to continue on. My poor company from out of town...cheers to them for trusting me to drive them up and down safely! True Friendship Of course I recommend and will always go back! I recommend taking all out your out of State guests for a great view and to take awesome photos read more

I love all the trails I have down so far at the South Mountain Park, it has trails for a variety of difficulty levels, & most importantly, it is an absolutely beautiful park filled with amazing views! read more

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The highest point in Phoenix! Great overview of the city, albeit at the mountain itself is nothing to go home about. Really easy drive up and various entry points. A very popular spot and you'll see a lot of folks who are local to the area or not checking out the views! There's a cool area with old Timey buildings that you can take pictures in and explore as well. You get a really see the city for what it is from this angle; which is vastly different from the other points. Definitely recommend checking out the spot at least once! read more

South Mountain Park - Parks Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

South Mountain Park is over 16,000 acres of beauty. It has over 58 miles of trails. Many of the trails were constructed in the 1930's. Dogs are allowed in the park. During my visit I decided to take the drive up to the top of the mountain. The view was breathtaking. Dobbins Lookout was recently opened after a renovation. A stone ramada is there if you need shade. There were lots of people enjoying the view and taking photos. They had a couple of people hawking their wares. It was most Native American type of merchandise. read more

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Hiked National to the Hidden Valley Trail Tunnel this past weekend for the first time. What a beautiful hike! Loved seeing all the saguaros and the view of the city and surrounding mountains from the top. Can't wait to hike it again! read more

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